The company I've work for about two decades has sent me to
most corners of the world. I've been fortunate to enjoy many countries
and it would take pages to talk about them all, so I'll let only a few
pictures speak of Japan, Australia, Indonesia, China, Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan,
Australia, Panama, Colombia, Oman, UAE, Turkey, Morocco, England, France, Spain, Italy,
Switzerland, Germany, Holland, Austria, Belgium, Luxemburg, Norway and the
Philippines.

Tenerife,
Canary Islands, international
astrophysical installations at 8000 feet, lots of white
domes, blue sky and the volcano (not in view) plainly visible, great
place to work. I enjoyed a wonderful private tour and pleasant lunch
with view of the volcano cone. My host, a British radio Astrophysics
engineer, was most generous with his time, and his own work made me
envious.

Abbots
Pass Hut, second highest building in Canada at 9568 feet,
incredible building put together by horse and Swiss men in 1922. Up the
glacier dropping into Lake Louise thousands of feet below. Access is
usually via a steep narrow rocky field 3000 feet, prone to
avalanch or occasional falling rock which have been fatal. You ascent
is flanked by towering mount Victoria and Le Froy
which mostly block your view of most of the world, until you reach the
last metre and arrive at the hut where a startling view at a diminutive
saddle (the huts 'front lawn') bears itself to you; the effort pays off.

The author up the slopes of mount Le Froy, above Abotts hut,
about 11,000 feet.

Tenerife,
Canary Islands towering rock formation in the caldera of the Teide
volcano. A touristy 45 minutes hike about the formation and others
snaking passed it offers a pleasant self guided geological tour.

Dubai
desert adventure pit stop; show off drivers, expensive outing
culminating with a desert dinner under the stars, belly dancing, single
camel, ATVs. As is per usual when west meets arab nation, culture is
commandeered for profit.

Omani
boat captain, what a life, knew only the few english sentences which he
repeated at every question I posed. Nice man, local champion swimmer,
big feet. Deck in rough seas near Telegraph Island. Doesn't
show, but it was very rough seas, cold day. Quite a large powered boat.
My colleague and I were alone as the town nestled in the cliffs at the
end of the newly constructed highway was under dark cold gray
skies. Frigid snorkeling.

Sunset in
Oman from the boat, wondrous sight. Lack of colours is untouched. Rocky
barren mountains and light fog formed layered image.

Nottingham
electricity generator plant cooling towers loom as a permanent fixtures
visible from far; the 'sheriff' must have loved them.

Dubai's famous hotel, the Burj Al Arab
in Jumeira. Exceedingly expensive, even just to visit; overhanging heli
pad on roof [where a famous tennis player strutted his stuff for Nike],
submarine trip to a restaurant, 180 metres atrium has its own
micro-climate, marvel of engineering mixing steel, concrete and woven
fabric.

Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands twin pumper trucks. The
firemen did not enjoy my trespassing in their courtyard to snap up this
unusual set of pastels.

Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands opera
house, bizarre shape, completely tiled with glossy ceramic
bits. No picture can fully show the proportions and curves to this
building. It is constructed on the shores of the island with the
Atlantic beating constantly and hard at its feet. Looking both boat and
wave, it dances mockingly in the face of... gravity.

Pico
del Teide's shadow on haze from top of Volcano at sunrise,
12571 feet. Usual ascent includes overnighter at
refuge (11000 ft), followed by a 4 am ascent to the cone
in the dark before sunrise; very cold, large sharp volcanic
rocks with gaping holes can prove dangerous to shins and boots.